1
as in terrifying
causing fear
a dreadful hurricane
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in awful
causing intense displeasure, disgust, or resentment
a dreadful performance of a beautiful piece of music
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3
as in horrific
extremely disturbing or repellent
dreadful news of a crime wave in the neighborhood
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4
as in intense
extreme in degree, power, or effect
the dreadful heat of the desert
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5
as in sheer
having no exceptions or restrictions
made a dreadful mess of his first marriage
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of dreadful
Kyiv endured the biggest ever attack overnight into Friday, with 13 dreadful hours of explosions and buzzing overhead as Russia launched a record 539 drones towards the Ukrainian capital and 11 cruise and ballistic missiles, according to the country’s air force.
—
Ivana Kottasová, CNN Money, 4 July 2025
England played a dreadful short corner in their loss to France.
—Michael Cox, New York Times, 6 July 2025
But extra work doesn’t always have to be draining or dreadful.
—Sho Dewan, Forbes.com, 17 June 2025
More Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images The World No. 1 showed a lot of resilience, bouncing back from that dreadful start with a bogey-free 33 on the back nine to give herself a chance on Sunday.
—Troy Finnegan, MSNBC Newsweek, 2 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for dreadful
Ivana Kottasová, CNN Money, 4 July 2025
England played a dreadful short corner in their loss to France.
—Michael Cox, New York Times, 6 July 2025
But extra work doesn’t always have to be draining or dreadful.
—Sho Dewan, Forbes.com, 17 June 2025
More Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images The World No. 1 showed a lot of resilience, bouncing back from that dreadful start with a bogey-free 33 on the back nine to give herself a chance on Sunday.
—Troy Finnegan, MSNBC Newsweek, 2 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for dreadful
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dreadful
Adjective
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In the meantime, Brandy has been reflecting on the terrifying experience.—
Wendy Grossman Kantor,
People.com,
25 July 2025
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In one of the film's most surprising sequences, his character golfs the best game of his life during a terrifying storm, misses a putt, curses God, and gets struck by lightning.—
Randall Colburn,
EW.com,
25 July 2025
Adjective
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Pictures of Piper the dog, who last year went through an awful health scare after having a rawhide treat.—
Alice Gibbs,
MSNBC Newsweek,
18 July 2025
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That’s a horrible way to feel, and an awful way for fans to treat her.—
Brian Moylan,
Vulture,
16 July 2025
Adjective
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But the first lady and I are here in Texas to express the love and support and the anguish of our entire nation in the aftermath of this really horrific and deadly flood.—
Emily Mae Czachor,
CBS News,
11 July 2025
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California homeowner’s insurance premiums were already rising before the horrific Southern California wildfires in January.—
Scott Cohn,
CNBC,
11 July 2025
Adjective
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The finish is long and intense, with lingering orchard fruits and spices.—
Joseph V Micallef,
Forbes.com,
16 July 2025
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Advertisement Advertisement Extreme weather events are only becoming more frequent and intense due to climate change.—
Simmone Shah,
Time,
15 July 2025
Adjective
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The sheer number of workers who are undocumented immigrants make the effect of widespread raids more pronounced.—
Marissa Meador,
IndyStar,
21 July 2025
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In a picture at a piano, Alexa wore a pink, sheer dress that opened at her stomach, signifying that the couple was expecting a girl.—
Hannah Sacks,
People.com,
18 July 2025
Adjective
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Because of Denise Gough's human frailty as a woman destroyed by her own ambition and Kyle Soller's cowardice in the face of a horrible truth.—
Maureen Lee Lenker,
EW.com,
23 July 2025
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Soak up the gall of losing, absorb the horrible information, feel it to the full, go there—and then rebound, with superb elasticity.—
James Parker,
The Atlantic,
22 July 2025
Adjective
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These are the kind of ugly games that sometimes get played when GMs and coaches grow apart and pressure builds on their job securities and livelihoods.—
Pat Leonard,
Hartford Courant,
21 July 2025
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In 1965 Martin got into an ugly battle with President Lyndon B. Johnson.—
Steve Forbes,
Forbes.com,
21 July 2025
Adjective
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But the gruesome truth remains — more than 120 are people are dead, including children.—
Bea L. Hines,
Miami Herald,
11 July 2025
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Other all-original haunted houses will include Jason Universe, which takes guests back to the summer camp where, one Friday the 13th, the gruesome legend was born.—
Tom Tapp,
Deadline,
10 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Dreadful.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dreadful. Accessed 30 Jul. 2025.
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